Time

You are here

Javad Larijani Defends Human Rights Conduct

Iran’s top human rights official censured western countries for adopting double standards toward human rights, saying they are abusing the issue as a “tactic” to achieve their covert political objectives.

Speaking to Tasnim News Agency, Mohammad Javad Larijani, secretary general of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights (affiliated to the judiciary), said given the western governments’ conduct inside and outside their countries, it has become crystal clear that “human rights are only a tactic for them”.

He denied western claims that human rights are not respected in Iran, asserting that the Islamic Republic’s record on human rights is satisfactory.

“Such a record is one of the best whether in terms of democracy or in terms of the judicial system,” he was quoted as saying by the news agency.

In his most recent report, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, once again made sweeping allegations against Tehran, voicing concern about the rate of executions and flaws in the administration of justice.

Iran has always denied reports by Shaheed, saying they do not reflect the realities on the ground in the country and are politically motivated.